Kurokawa Onsen tours

Mount Aso crater and Kusasenri. Aso Shrine and Kurokawa Onsen tours were such precious times. Especially, the guide, Tak Yeon-ji, explained everything so well that I enjoyed the tour. She also took pictures at great photo spots and explained Japanese culture in an easy-to-understand way, which was great. I would like to join the next bus tour with Tak Yeon-ji. Travelers who meet Tak Yeon-ji are lucky. Thank you again to Tak Yeon-ji for making this a wonderful trip.

This project is a highly valuable and worthwhile itinerary. I had originally read online that Kumamoto Castle might be closed for maintenance, but luckily, we were able to visit! The ginkgo and cherry trees were truly beautiful. The timing was just right; if you want to eat and shop, you need to move quickly and take fewer photos to have a chance to try everything. The tempura was incredibly delicious and a must-try; it was sold alongside the bear-shaped cakes, and both were tasty and adorable. Aso Volcano, however, was a shame... we couldn't visit due to a red alert, which was the only disappointment. Our tour guide mentioned that it's very rare for Aso Volcano to be on a green alert, and even they couldn't predict the timing. The scenery was truly beautiful. Oh, and definitely bring a windbreaker! We thought it wouldn't be cold, but we were absolutely freezing. You should also try the coffee, and if you want to experience buying a lucky bag in Japan, you can grab one. The lucky bags contain a selection of the store's key items, so if you don't want to pick out souvenirs, you can just buy a lucky bag; it has plenty of things to give as gifts! It's excellent value for money, though it did rain a few times and disrupted things. There's also a supermarket where you should definitely buy things if you can. The Aso Musume strawberries are very popular, but they are incredibly sweet and delicious, not sour at all, with a fragrant strawberry aroma. There are other varieties of strawberries too, and the prices are all fantastic!

We visited a lot of places during the tour and was able to have time to browse lots of souvenirs and food throughout. Mount Aso crater was unfortunately closed but we were still able to enjoy and take in the amazing views. Our guides especially Sun was so accommodating even when we me and my friend were the only 2 English speaking people in the trip. They were both really jolly and would give good infos about the places and also gave tips on food and where else to visit around Fukuoka. So thank you so much to them :)

Xiao Chen has a great attitude, manages the itinerary time well, and provides excellent service.

For travelers who travel independently and without self-driving, participating in this one-day tour is a great choice! Although there was no tour guide this time, the information in the itinerary was quite clear; the lunch arrangement (auspicious tofu) was a healthy meal and the portion was quite sufficient! Purchase a round hot spring immersion hand shape at the tourist service center, and freely choose to go to two hot springs of different styles to experience a semi-open-air hot spring, which is very relaxing! There are many shops on the small street, but you need to pay attention to whether they are open that day. Finally, buy a handmade ceramic cup as a souvenir to end this one-day trip to Kurokawa Onsen! The only drawback was that it was raining that day and there was still some residual snow on the stairwell, making the road slippery and a little dangerous.

This Mount Fuji tour was absolutely amazing and one of the highlights of my trip to Japan! Everything was well organised, the scenery was breathtaking, and we had plenty of time to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. The best part of the experience was our guide, Linda. She was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole day so much fun. She shared interesting facts about the places we visited, kept everyone informed, and was always happy to answer questions. Her positive energy and kindness made the tour even more memorable. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. If you’re thinking about doing a Mount Fuji tour, I highly recommend this one—and if you’re lucky enough to have Linda as your guide, you’re in for an unforgettable day!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Japan! If you’re a fan of JDM culture, Fast & Furious, or just love cars, this experience is absolutely worth it. It doesn’t feel like a typical tourist tour—you really become part of the local car community. Seeing legendary cars, meeting passionate owners, driving through Tokyo at night, and visiting Daikoku PA created memories we’ll never forget. A special thank you to our driver, Timi. She was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and professional from the very beginning. She made us feel comfortable, shared interesting stories, answered all our questions, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Her passion for JDM culture really shows, and it made the night feel authentic and special. Thank you, Timi, and the whole Gaijin Tuned team for an unforgettable evening. We would definitely do it again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tokyo!

Sun Peng, our guide, deserves a perfect score! He was incredibly knowledgeable about Kumamoto throughout the trip, explaining the unique features of each attraction. To be honest, the scenic train wasn't really worth it; 2300 yen per person just to see some mountains. It wasn't as beautiful as the Ghibli train I rode in Hakone, Tokyo. It was a shame we couldn't go boating in Takachiho Gorge today. The scenery was nice, though slightly less impressive than Hokkaido's Blue Pond. My only criticism for the guide is regarding Takachiho Shrine. Going there is fine, but the path is genuinely difficult, so be prepared. However, on the way back to the parking lot, the guide told us to follow Google Maps to the third parking lot, which would have been a disaster! You absolutely must return to the slope and head straight for the third parking lot. When you go to the shrine, there's a fork in the road on that slope; pay attention to the sign for the third parking lot. It's only 300m that way. Do NOT follow the map! Our large group followed the map, but luckily, I had seen the sign on the way in, otherwise, we would have been completely lost trying to go back the same way! The cheese buns the guide recommended were pretty good, and the cream puffs were also nice, filled with ice cream. I didn't get to try the summer iced tea special. The horse meat sashimi and barbecue were decent, but don't have high expectations; it's not as good as grilled beef. Next, regarding the guide's recommendations at Kusasenri: I didn't buy the keychains, nor the horse oil cream, but I did get a fridge magnet. The green house was a bit hard to find, so you need to look carefully. The beef burger was sold out. The only thing I think is worth recommending, which the guide didn't, is the ice cream. If you go, remember to try the ice cream at the museum! Oh, and I should mention that the time at Kusasenri is quite short. If you climb to the observation deck and then want to eat or shop, it might be a bit rushed. Be prepared to just have ice cream! The fridge magnet is cute and worth buying for 800 yen! Finally, the Ten Ga Ten ramen was a bit unappetizing; the firm noodles were very salty, not as good as Ippudo in Osaka, haha. Ippudo is also salty (apparently ramen is meant to be paired with sake). As for the Osmanthus fried rice: it tasted like something any Chinese restaurant could make, so there's no need to specifically try it in Japan, haha! Overall, this group tour was actually pretty good, just a bit rushed. Of course, that's because there were many places to visit, and it wasn't a self-guided tour, haha! I would definitely join a group tour again if I have the chance!